Packaging and cushioning device



July 16, 1968 s. F. FLYNN PACKAGING AND CUSHION ING DEVICE Filed April 27, 1966 United v States Patent 3,392,824 PACKAGING AND CUSHIONING DEVICE Stanley F. Flynn, Fort Richardson, Alaska (APO, Seattle, Wash. 98749) Filed Apr. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 546,482 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging and cushioning device consisting of a frame, a center piece raised above the frame and a series of arms extending downwardly from the center piece and connected to the frame at points offset from the points from which they extend from the center piece.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a packaging and cushioning device, and more particularly to a flexible device for cushioning a fragile or delicate article.

Presently used packaging harnesses and like devices providing for the cushioning of fragile and delicate articles are designed only to protect the article against vertical and lateral movement. No provision was made for the protection of the article against twisting, or torsional movement.

The present invention provides for twisting of the article and consists, briefly, of a cushioning plate, or tray, having a center piece, a base, and connecting arms all of a flexible material, and it may be used to protect an article in a container by placing the plates about the article in the container to permit bending and twisting of the article while in the container.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a cushioning device, for use in packaging, to protect a fragile or delicate article during twisting, as well as vertical and lateral movement.

Another object is to provide a cushioning device for use in packaging which is fabricated from a plastic material.

A further object is to provide a cushioning device capable of being pressed into a flat plane.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the cushioning device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a still further modified form;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken through a container and showing the application of the device for protecting an article therein;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a further modification; and

FIG. 6 is a similar view of a still further modified form.

Referring in detail to the drawing, reference character 1 represents, generally, the cushioning device of the invention.

The cushioning device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a square base 2, a disc shaped center piece 3 and connecting arms, indicated generally by 4.

3,392,824 Patented July 16, 1968 Center piece 3 may be perforated as at 5, if desired, for purposes of lightness, and may be flat as shown, or molded to fit the shape of the particular article to be cushioned.

Connecting arms 4, as seen in FIGS. 1-4 are integral with the base 2 and center piece 3, and as shown form a reverse curve having two angular turns.

Each arm 4 curves downwardly from center piece 3 as at 6, makes an angular turn 7, extends straight as at 8, then makes another angular turn 9 to join base 2 at a point offset from the point it extends from said center piece. Thus center piece 3 is raised above base 2 to form a cushion.

A modified form of cushioning device is shown in FIG. 2. Similar parts are lettered with a. The device illustrated in this figure is essentially the same as in FIG. 1 with the exception that base 2a is circular instead of square and portion 8a is curved to form an arc that is concentric with the circumference of center piece 3a.

FIG. 4 is a view showing how the device 1 is used. Reference character 10 designates a container which is shown in cross section. The devices shown are of the form in FIG. 1.

An article is designated by 11. A cushioning device 1 is placed with the base 2 abutting the inner face of each of the sides and with the center piece 3 abutting the article 11. The cushioning device may be inserted between the article 11 and the sides after the article 11 has been placed in the container 10. The center piece 3, if flat, will be depressed to conform to the contour of the article 11 by pressure.

Other cushioning devices 1 may be placed between the cover and bottom (not shown) of the container 10.

Arms 4 may be of other shapes as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 5, they are shown as diagonal as at 5b, and in FIG. 6, they are curved as at 50.

The outer perimeter of base 2 may be of any regular or irregular shape as necessary to fit the particular shaped container in which they are used.

The cushioning device 1 may be made singly or in multiple units for use as a liner in a container.

While only preferred forms of the invention are shown and described, other forms of the invention are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible, unitary packaging and cushioning device comprising a flat frame, a flat center piece having a central opening therein located centrally in said frame, and a series of arms of equal width throughout extending downwardly in symmetry from the perimeter of said centre piece and connected to the inner perimeter of said frame at points offset from the points from which they extend from said center piece whereby said center piece is raised from said frame, each said arm extending from said center piece making an angular turn to follow a path extending between the outer edge of the center piece and the inner edge of the frame, then making a reverse angular turn to connect with the inner edge of said frame.

2. A flexible, unitary packaging and cushioning device comprising a flat frame, a flat center piece having a central opening therein located centrally in said frame, and

, 3 a series of armscf equal width throughout extending downwardly the symmetry from the perimeter of said center piece and connected to the inner perimeter of said frame at points offset from the points from which they extend from said center piece whereby said center piece is raised from said frame, each said arm extending from said center piece making an angular turn to follow a path parallel with the inner edge of said frame, then making a reverse angular turn to connect with the inner edge of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Surmann 217-27 Petty 267-1 Nicklas 2671 Marshall 2671 Gross 267-1 RALPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner. 

